By Kirstin Nichols

The National Honor Society, or NHS, recently underwent a change in advisors for the 2018-2019 school year. At the first meeting on Friday, September 14th, which consisted of only existing members (new members had not been accepted at this time), Ms. Riley asked the students to vote on whether she should maintain her position as advisor. Sixteen students voted that she should leave, while eleven voted that she should stay.

Student officer Hannah Maher said, “I and most others were very surprised that she resigned. Myself and other officers were aware of some feedback from members who were unhappy with how NHS was being run, but I didn’t expect this turn of events.”

Of Ms. Riley’s willingness to resign as advisor, Maher said, “I find it very admirable that she respected the idea of a democracy within NHS and allowed for a group vote among members.”

It became the responsibility of the officers and members to find a new advisor. Maher stated, “Our president, Hubert Aguilar, worked nonstop looking for the right advisor to represent NHS. Of course, other members sought out their favorite teachers.” The officers searched for teachers that they, “thought would be interested, willing to commit, and work as a team, and are not already an advisor of a club,” said Maher.

English and Signature teacher Ms. Sinnott became interested in advising NHS when Ms. Cooper emailed Arundel’s staff about the opportunity. “Her note went out during the second week of September,” says Ms. Sinnott. “Mr. Marshall and I officially signed on as co-advisors on September 22.”

Ms. Sinnott says she is excited to work with NHS. “I think its values–leadership, scholarship, service, and character–represent the best of Arundel.” A former Arundel student, Sinnott was an officer of NHS during high school. “It’s fun to come full circle,” she said.  Another reason for Ms. Sinnott’s eagerness to be an advisor of NHS is the students that she would be working with. “Because I teach only 9th grade courses, NHS is a chance for me to work with our awesome upperclassmen.”

Overall, Ms. Sinnott hopes to, “support student efforts to use NHS as a platform for giving back to our school and community.  We should be visible and accessible as tutors. We should be trustworthy and diligent as learners. We should extend beyond excellence in the classroom to facilitate hands-on service and advocacy.”

“I’m confident they’ll do a great job,” says former advisor Ms. Riley. “The service opportunities that are available from NHS headquarters have not been really focused on.” She believes that having two advisors rather than one will be, “much more effective.” Due to the many service opportunities and scholorships that are available from the NHS headquarters, Ms. Riley believes that advising NHS is, “more of a two person job.” 

“I truly think Mr. Marshall and MS. Sinnott will impact NHS in a very positive way,” Maher said. “With both of them being young and newer teachers I feel that they work best with students and can play more of a team player role.”